DAR ES SALAAM, April 24 (Xinhua) -- An Emirates Airline flight with 503 passengers and crew was on Tuesday diverted to Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam after it failed to land in Mauritius due to bad weather, aviation authorities said.
Hamza Johari, director general of Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), said the Airbus 380 was allowed to land at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) at around 1 p.m. local time after the crew had asked for permission.
"This is the first time for such a huge aircraft to land at the JNIA," said Johari when reached by phone.
He said the plane, flying from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, failed to touch down at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Mauritius following bad weather.
"All the passengers and crew are safe. They were making arrangements to spend a night in Dar es Salaam and they are expected to proceed to Mauritius tomorrow (Wednesday)," Johari said.
Matanga Mbusi, the JNIA police commander, said the plane was diverted to Dar es Salaam after three failed attempts to land in Mauritius.
